i got autolite plugs and the stupid washers come loose in the box...which way do they go onto the spark plug?

 

Years ago a shop I worked for stocked bulk Autolite plugs (boxes of 25 or so). The washers werent on the plugs and one day when we were slow this subject came up and I called the tech line to ask them. They said that after you crush the washer it is pretty much the same on each side so it doesnt matter wich way you put them on.